Shennikov's Late Own Goal Earns Man United a 3-3 Draw With CSKA Moscow

After defeating CSKA Moscow 1-0 in the Luzhniki Stadium on Oct. 21, Manchester United hosted CSKA at Old Trafford in their second matchup in the UEFA Champions League on Nov. 3.

United went into this match just needing a draw to get into the knockout stages of the Champions League, while CSKA went into Old Trafford needing a victory to get them into second place in Group B, and contend for the second knockout position out of Group B.

This also was CSKA's Champions League match with Leonid Slutsky as manager, as he replaced the recently sacked Juande Ramos.

Early on, CSKA came out firing several shots at the United goal, and started to take control of the game in the offensive end, and in the 25th minute, CSKA got rewarded for their hard work with a goal.

The goal was scored by Alan Dzagoev, as he was able to shoot the ball into the net past United keeper Edwin Van de Sar on a very acute angle on the left hand side, and was able to put the ball into the far right corner to give CSKA a 1-0 lead.

However, Man United responded very quickly to this goal as just four minutes later, Michael Owen was able to put away a shot from the center of the box to tie up the game at one.

But just one minute later, CSKA took the lead 2-1 on more beautiful football, as this time Tomas Necid fed a through ball to an unmarked Milos Krasic, who pivoted past Van de Sar and desposed of the ball into the empty net, giving CSKA the lead. 

And as the first half headed toward a conclusion, United went on the offensive, but they weren't able to beat CSKA keeper Igor Akinfeev and CSKA Moscow went into the half at Old Trafford with a 2-1 lead over Manchester United.

And at the beginning of the second half, CSKA Moscow took a 3-1 lead as Dzagoev fed Vassill Berezoutski on a free kick, who headed the ball past Van de Sar to give CSKA the third goal.

But after the goal, Darren Fletcher was moving the ball into the CSKA box, where he was tripped by Berezouski on a play that should have been a penalty, but Fletcher was instead shown a yellow card for diving by referee Olegario Benquerenca. 

After the Fletcher incident, Man United manager Sir Alex Ferguson replaced Nani with new father Wayne Rooney, as his wife Coleen gave birth to Kai Wayne Rooney on Nov. 2.

After Rooney came in, United's attack continued to take shots at Akinfeev, but the Russian keeper was marvelous in the goal, as he was preventing anything from getting in.

But in the 84th minute, United started another incredible rally as Paul Scholes was able to head in the ball of a pass from Gary Neville, and the game was now 3-2.

And United continued to pepper the CSKA defense after the goal, and they were able to capitalize on a bizarre play.

Man United's Antonio Valencia took a shot from about 25 yards out, but his shot deflected off of CSKA defender's Georgy Shennikov leg and past Akinfeev, tying the game at three.

And after the goal, Rooney had one more chance to win the match, but his shot went over the bar and the game ended with the score tied at three.

With the draw, Manchester United have ensured themselves passage into the knockout stages of the Champions League, and will face Besiktas at home on Nov. 25 on Matchday Five.

Meanwhile for CSKA, this result will drop them further back in the Group B standings, as Wolfsburg was able to win at Besiktas 3-0, which increased the gap between Wolfsburg and CSKA Moscow to three points, with both sides meeting on Matchday Five on Nov. 25.